Shark's Death Prompts PETA Appeal to Kmart: End Use of Wild Animals in Ads

Shark Reportedly Flown Cross-Country and Put in a Backyard Pool With Actors Shortly Before Dying

For Immediate Release:
March 14, 2013

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Chicago -- Following reports from whistleblowers that a whitetip shark died during the production of a Kmart commercial, PETA has fired off a letter urging the chain to investigate the incident immediately and to adopt a policy against using any wild animals in its ads. The shark was flown to Los Angeles on March 6 and placed in a small above-ground pool in Van Nuys, Calif. PETA was told that actors jumped in and out of the pool with the shark, stressing the animal, who died later that day. It was reported to PETA that the crew was upset by the obviously distressed state of the shark, but only after approximately an hour did the American Humane Association—which allegedly approved the script and was on set—stop the shoot.

"Again, it appears that no one on set is protecting animals from exploitation, suffering, and death, making it clear that the only sure way to prevent real-life animal snuff movies is not to use animals in the first place," says PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange. "PETA is telling Kmart that there's no excuse for risking animals' lives, especially when modern, creative companies today are using CGI [computer-generated imagery] and animatronic technology instead of captive wild animals."

For more information, please visit PETA.org.